Winston Peters: Nats abandon farmers

Winston Peters, leader of New Zealand First, speaks to a large audience in Dannevirke. Photo / Christine McKay

There was a presidential-style entrance and a standing ovation as Winston Peters turned up to speak in Dannevirke recently.

Ron Mark, deputy leader of New Zealand First, said the meeting was the largest called in Dannevirke and was a "sign of the times".

Mr Peters told a receptive audience the wagon that rural New Zealand has hitched up to (the National Party) isn't doing the job any more.

"I know I'm in the heartland of National, but ordinary people are just getting poorer and poorer and a lot of retired people are stretched out to make their budget work. Towns up and down New Zealand are struggling to survive and are hanging on for all they're worth.

"In places like Dannevirke businesses have closed, and now town after town is looking for the magic bullet to revitalise them," he said.

Mr Peters insisted the National Government wasn't listening, asking the audience to put their hands up if they knew who the local member of Parliament was - 15 per cent did so.

"Khandallah isn't a major farming or wine-growing region, that's why he isn't listening," he said referring to Wairarapa MP National's Alastair Scott.

However, Mr Scott told the Dannevirke News voters do not care where he lives, or where any MP lives.

"Northland voters are a good example. They do not mind Winston lives in Auckland.

People will judge a person on their performance, not on their address," he said.

"For 15 per cent of people to say they know me is a good percentage from any group. I doubt the number is really that high. If the question was 'Have you met Alastair?', then that could be right. There are approximately 40,000 voters [on the general roll], so 15 per cent is a lot of handshaking."

Mr Peters said his wasn't a personal attack, but when it comes to provincial New Zealand priorities, he believes they are upside down.

"With the current blind ideology we'll get nowhere. Something is happening in rural New Zealand and it's not good.

"Country people were the backbone and everyone was important in a town like Dannevirke - now a lot of New Zealanders are numb to what's going on. Our farmers have been sold short, their intellectual property sold for a pittance."

Mr Scott told the Dannevirke News farmers are being supported by free trade agreements, enabling greater volumes of products easy access to international markets.

"Unfortunately, Winston's party does not support free trade agreements, so is therefore not supporting farmers," he said.

"The China free trade agreement has enabled exports to quadruple to China.

"To say free markets are ruining the economy is nonsense. Farmers are the first to understand the free market. They regularly buy and sell their stock in a free market, the saleyards. Free markets are essential for buyers and sellers to meet and to agree on a fair price. Regulating or dictating prices is inefficient, expensive and a thing of the past."